SFU’s RADIUS awarded new grant to drive social change

A major new award will see the Beedie School of Business’ social venture lab and incubator RADIUS strengthen its position as a thought-leader in changing higher education in Canada and launching high-impact solutions to social challenges.

RADIUS will use the $100,000 grant from RECODE, a new social innovation and entrepreneurship initiative from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, to finance the creation of two key programs over the next two years.

“This award from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation speaks to RADIUS’ capacity to launch social change, and will fund their efforts to create lasting benefit to society,” says Blaize Horner Reich, Dean of the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University.

“It is wonderful to see RADIUS and SFU recognized as leader in social innovation and entrepreneurship, and I am excited to see the outcomes of the new initiatives this award will launch.”

The award will fund the new RADIUS Social Impact Fellows Program, which will support emerging change-makers and entrepreneurs outside of the classroom with personalized learning journey coaching, idea incubation, skill building, and a peer community. The program will also act as a sounding board and think tank to advance the work of emerging young innovators in BC.

As well, the City Incentive Challenge Program will see RADIUS partner with the City of Vancouver, HeroX, and CityStudio to inspire entrepreneurs to overcome meaningful social problems in Vancouver through the use of incentive prizes.

“The RECODE program funding will have a tremendous impact on our ability to grow two truly innovative programs in the region,” says Shawn Smith, Director of RADIUS.

“This is a natural extension of our vision to be Canada’s most community engaged university, and a leader in how universities can help society address its most pressing problems.”

The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Montreal that supports Canadians in building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable and resilient society.

The RECODE program provides social innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for university students to become drivers of progress and change.

For more information about RADIUS, visit www.radiussfu.com/